Teaching device



April 25; 1950' J; O, EDWARDS 2,595,608

TEACHING DEVICE Filed July 22, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

BY l @y/4,

April 25, 1950 J. o. EDWARDS 2,595,668

TEACHING DEVICE Filed July 22, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: Q Josf/JH 0.- EwA feos.

April 25, 1950 J. o. EDWARDS 2,505,608

TEACHING DEVICE Filed July 22, 194e 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 13 m/wsFmMe-k /fo 24 vof. ns

j INVENTOR.'

wwf@

Patented Apr. 25, 1950 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE TEACHING DEVICE Joseph O. Edwards, Fresno, Calif.

Application July 22, 1946, Serial No. 685,449

6 Claims.

This invention relates to teaching devices and more particularly to aids to teaching, demonstrating and directing music.

Broadly the problems of teaching are concerned with the control and manipulation of the students environment so as to stimulate his interest and learning. Stimuli are provided in the environment to appeal to any one of the so-called five senses or combinations thereof, it being recognized that for most educational purposes visual stimuli are most effective,'auditory next in value. and stimuli such as appeal to the senses of smell, taste and touch being obviously less advantageously employed in general educational procedures.

Conventionally, the teaching of music has al most exclusively employed auditory stimuli; such as tonal exercises, musical demonstrations and oral instructions. The little visual appeal that has been employed has dealt principally with purely static printed or written material and with keyboard demonstrations that can be witnessed by only a very few students at one time.

An object of my invention, therefore is to provide a teaching device adapted to present dynamic, as Well as static, visual illustrations for Another object is to provide a visual teaching aid simply and easily coordinated with, and motivated by, musical keyboards.

Another object is to provide automatic, visual transposition of musical notes.

In the directing of musical organizations, an object is to provide a single directing means adapted to give simultaneously a plurality of musical pitch and rhythm directions and thus to obviate the present necessity for the musicians to divide their attention between a conductor and a musical score.

Another object is to stimulate student interest in music and to increase teaching efficiency.

A further object is to cause music students to 4see the piano keyboard as a reduction of any vocal or instrumental score.

Still further objects are to provide a means for presenting problems in harmony, melody and rhythm in response to manipulation of a piano "keyboard and to provide improved elements and 2 arrangements thereof in a device of the character and for the purposes set forth.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective View of the device oi the present invention as employed with a conventional piano.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of a piano keyboard illustrating a switch assembly in operational position thereon having a portion of the cover of said switch assembly removed to reveal inner elements thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of the same taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a further enlarged fragmentary section taken on line Ll-s of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the simulated keyboard a translucent panel thereof representing said keyboard being removed to reveal inner elements.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 'l-l of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of the electrical system of the present invention. The system is reduced to a single octave of the keyboard for purposes of clarity.

For convenience in description, We will refer to a switch assembly lil, an illuminable simulated piano keyboard ll, and an electrical cable l2 providing communication between the two.

In Fig. 1, a portion oi a conventional piano is illustrated generally at I3 having a keyboard on which white keys lll and black keys l5 are clearly indicated. The switch assembly l@ is shown in operating position resting on the piano keyboard.

The switch assembly comprises a foundation member l, a plurality of switches li, lead wires I8 and guard i9, indicated in Figs. 3 and fi. The bottom portion of the housing member is transversey grooved as illustrated at 2B in Fig. 4 to provide a resting surface for the switch assembly in Contact with each key occupying a relaxed position within the range of said assembly.

Bores 2| having lower portions of greater diam eter designated by the numeral 22 and upper portions 23 of lesser diameter are formed through the foundation member in substantially erect positions and preferably so spaced as to cause one such bore to be centered on each piano key within the range of the switch assembly.

Longitudinally of the switch assembly and at one side of the bores 2l a ground plate 26 of electrical conducting material is secured to the foundation member. On the foundation member at the side opposite each bore from the ground plate, a contact plate is secured by means of a screw boit 26 engaged within a screw threaded opening in the oundation member. rThe screw bolt also comprises a post for securing lead wires I8, presently more fully described, in electrical communication with the contact plates.

The primary function of the switch assembly lil is to provide means for closing electri-al circuits of the present device in response to manipulation of keys of the piano. To this end, switch ngers 2l; having lower portions 28 adapted to slide within and be guided by the bores 2|, and upper portions 2d of reduced diameter; are positioned Within said bores. The upper portions or Vthe ngers are of a size and shape adapted to extend through the upper portions 23 of the bores 2l and be slidably guided thereby. Screw threaded openings 36 are formed in the upper end portions of the ringers. Bridge elements 3l of electrical conducting material are secured transversely to the upper end portions oi the lingers by means of bolts 32 screw threadabiy engaged within the openings 3d. The bridge elements thus provide electrical communication between their respective contact plates and the ground plaie 2e when their respective switch nngers are permitted to descend. 't is to be noted that the switch fingers are of a length sufficient to break the described electrical communications when their downwardly extended end portions are held usn with the lower surfaces o the foundation member I6. In Fig. 4, it is further to be noted that because of the grooves 2t, provided to receive the black keys 'i5 or" the keyboard, the switch fingers borne thereabove must be shortened io compensate for such variation.

To give the bridge elements 3l' a positive closing action 'when the p-ano keys therebelow are depressed and the switch lingers are thus pei'- mi'tted to descend, helical compression springs 33 are provided circumjacent the smaller portions 29 oi' the switch ngers 2l within the .owerportions 22 of the bores 2l. Upper ends oi the compression springs bear against the shoulder in the bores formed by the joining of the lower porti-.ons 22 with the upper portions 23 and the lower ends of said springs bear against the'shoulder'crmed on the switch fingers by the intersection or the smaller portions 29 with the larger portions 28.

A longitudinal shelf element fill is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 mounted on the foundation'member I6 and supporting the lead wires i8 in a position safely removed from interference with the individual switches ll of the switch assembly. The guard i9 is'iitted over the upwardly exposed poi'- tions of the switch assembly and frictionally engages the sides and ends of the foundation member l. Set screws 35 are employed to secure the guard in place.

The illuminable simulated piano keyboard Il, illustrated in detail in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, comprises a housing 3G, preferably in the form of a rectangular box whose portions are arbitrarily designated for purposes of description as a front'l, a back 38, a top 39, a bottom 43, and end lli. 'ln Fig. l, the front 3l is seen to mount a transposition pointer 42, a dial 43 there-for, and to have =an elongated window lf3 of translucent material marked to represent the keys of a piano keyboard. Directly behind the window lill, and in abutting relation to said window and to the back 3B, are

provided opaque partitions 45. rlhe partitions are shaped to coincide with the dividing marks oi' the parlo keyboard represented on the window lill and thus to Iorm compartments behind tlie keys. Because or' said partitions being impervious to iight, they permit individual illumination oi the key replicas on the window without illuminating contiguous key replicas.

-rteceptacies 46 are mounted on the inner su1 face ol the back in the compartments formed by the partitions, by screws lll. Said screws also serve to secure lead wires I8 and supply wires 4J,

presently more fully described, to terminals ol' the receptacles. Illuminating means such as conventional light bulbs fie are engaged within said receptacles.

It is readily seen, that 'the wiring of each of the switches ll in series with each ol' the illuminating lmeans 49, results in the energizing or' tne illuminating means in response to the depressing of tne planokeys under the switches.

It is iiequently desirable to transpose musical notes whose piano keys are depressed. 'lo this end a transposition switch 5u, illustrated in Fig. 6, is illustrated. ri'he switch compriues a rear mounting panel 5I, a front mounting panel 52, and iiieans ior mounting said panels on the back Sii of the housing 36. .Said mounting means comprises a screw threaded rod 5:.' engaged i-i an opning in the back of the housing, nuts iil and anu a hollow cylindrical spacer be employed to secure the rod in the housing and the rear mounting panel, borne thereby, rixediy in spaced relation to the back 38 thereof. The rod 55 has radial ears 5': formed thereon. A pair of washers o'l and 5d and a nut 6d are employed 'to rotatably mount the front panel 52 on the rod 5u; 'tile nut 6d and ears serving to position the iront panel in spaced relation to the rear mounting panel l.

A p urality of mounting bolts ill, oi conducting matenai ale concentrlcally arranged ne..r the periphery of the front panel and extend therethrough. Their rearward ends iol-m contact elements and their forward ends provide convenient screw threaded electrical connecting posts. Similarly, a like number of mounting bolts 62 are preferably concentrically arranged near the periphery oi' the rear panel and are extended therethrough. These latter mounting bolts provide convenient mounting posts at their rear end portions and clamping means at their front end portions. Spring contact means 63 are secured to the rear panel 5l by said clamping means in electrical communication with the bolts '55 The spring contact means are shaped to engage individually the contact elements of the bolts 6l and are suilciently resilient to permit the rotation of the front panel and contact elements and to prov .de individual electrical communhation witu said Contact elements wherever said iront panel is permitted to rest. To manipulate the front panel a bifurcated control means 6d is rotatably mounted in the front 3l of the housing tti al gned with .the rod 53, said control means mounting the pointer` 52 on its outerend `and engaging receptacles in the front panel at its inner end. A, bushing 65 is preferably provided. in the front of thehousing to position said control means.

In conjunction with the transpostion switch 50, a landing panel 6G, of insulating material and having a center opening formed therein, is mounted in the housing 36 in concentricrelation to the axis of rotation .of the front panel 52. A plurality of electric terminals 6l extend through the landing panel and provide for the individual securing of electrical conductors at each side of said panel and in electrical communication therethrough.

Slack conductor wires 68 are secured to the rearwardly disposed ends of the terminals 6l and the forward ends of the mounting bolts Si. For purposes of clarity, only two such wires are indicated in Fig. 6. It is to be understood, however, that each of the mounting bolts 6! is preferably linked to a terminal 51.

So far, the electric circuits involved in the apparatus of the present invention have been only briefly alluded to and fragmentarily described. The schematic wiring diagram` shown in Fig. 8, for purposes of clarity, illustrates the electrical circuits involved for a switch assembly of only thirteen switches. Actually the apparatus may be constructed to embrace any desired number of keys of a keyboard. A convenient size has been found to be that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 extending three octaves. In Fig. 8, the transposition switch 5t has been simplified in response to the reduced number of circuits involved.

A conventional socket plug 69 is provided to engage a source of electrical energy, such as a .11,0 volt power supply commonly available in schools, homes, studios and stages. An extension cord l0 leads to a step-down transformer Ii which reduces the voltage at its output terminals an amount in keeping with the limitations of the switches and illuminating means employed in the circuits. A conductor 12 communicates vbetween one output terminal of the transformer 'H and the ground plate 24 and the supply wire. 48 communicates between the other output terminal of the transformer and one pole of each of the illuminating means 49. The several circuits controlling the illumination of the simulated piano keyboard in response to manipulation of the piano keyboard are arranged in electrical parallel between the ground platev 2liA and the supply wire .48.

Since the parallel circuits are similar. the tracing of one such circuit from C to C,f for example, will suffice to explain each circuit. The lead wire i8 is connected to the contact plate 25 of the switch I1 manipulated 'by the piano key C and to the terminal of the illuminating means 49 for the key replica C opposite to the terminal energized by lead wire 48. The transposition switch is interposed in the lead wire i8 as previously described. As indicated in Fig. 8 the electrical path leads directly from the "C switch to the simulated key "C. The depressing of the piano key C illuminates the simulated key C. By turning the transposition switch any desired number of half tones in either direction the note of the depressed piano key C may be transposed as desired. The manipulation of the transposition switch contemporaneously adjusts all circuits for identical transposition displacing.

Operation The operation of the apparatus of the present invention is apparent fromy the preceding description and will be summarized briefly at this point.

The switch assembly l 0 is positioned on a piano keyboard as shown in Fig. 1. The simulated piano keyboard is arranged to be visible to the observers it is desired to direct or instruct. The socket plug BS is engaged with a source of electrical energy. The transpositiontfswitch is set at a neutral position.

So arranged, the depressing of the keys of the piano keyboard such as A and G in Fig. 1 permits their switch fingers to descend, close their respective circuits, and illuminate key replicas A and G in the simulated keyboard Si. When pressure is released from the piano keys, they return to their relaxed positions, raise their respective switch fingers, and interrupt their circuits.

Thus, dynamic or static illustrations may be presented as desired in response to piano keyboard manipulation; said piano keyboard and manipulation thereof being accurately simulated in a manner visible to large groups. Diatonic and chromatic scales are easily demonstrated. Problems of harmony, melody and rhythm may be illustrated. Visual stimuli coordinated with auditory stimuli from the piano are presented for instructional and directive purposes. Keys and their intervals may be visually presented in a manner conducive to a thorough comprehension of chords and other harmonic, melodic, and rhythmic considerations.

By setting the transposition switch for any desired number of half tones of displacement either way from the neutral position, the key replicas of the simulated piano keyboard Il are illuminated in response to the manipulation of the piano keyboard and are automatically transposed from their true simulated positions a responsive amount. Thus the playing of the piano results in an automatic visual transposition of the music so produced. As an illustration of one of the many useful applications this specific feature has, the transposition switch may be set the number of half tones removed from its neutral position as the key of an instrument to be 'played with a piano varies from that of the piano. So adjusted, the playing of a note on the piano results in the illumination of a key replica, the playing of which on said instrument results in tonal agreement with the piano.

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of my invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all eouivalent devices and systems.

Having described my invention. what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination of a simulated piano keyboard, means for independently illuminating key replicas thereof. electrical switch means for energizing said illuminating means in response to the manipulation of a piano keyboard, and a transposition switch for selectively causing key replicas in any predetermined musical key to be illuminated in response to the movement of any piano key engaged bv the switch means.

2. The combination of a simulated piano keyboard comprising a plurality of piano key replicas and illuminating means therefor, a switch assembly adapted to be positioned on a piano keyboard and having a plurality of switches operated by movements of the keys of said piano, electrical conductors communicating between said switches and their respective illuminating means in the simulated keyboard and completing electrical circuits with a source of electrical energy, and a transposition switch interposed between the switches and the illuminating means whereby depressed piano keys are caused to illuminate corswitches and' their respective illuminating means inthe simulated keyboard, betweensaid illuminating means and a source of electrical energy Vand between said switches'and the opposite pole of'th'esource oi electrical energy, Vand a trans- `position switch interposed between the switches -vand illuminating means whereby the depressing of''a #piano vkey 'may oe caused to illuminate a irespo'nsive key 'replica in any predetermined 4musical key.

'4, In a teaching deviceadapted to present to a pupil synchronously employed auditory and visual stimuli, the combination of a switch 'as- "se'mblyadapted to rest upon a piano keyboard landproviding'switch ngers individual to Vthe k'eys of the piano keyboard operably connected to individual switches within the assembly whereby said switches areclosed in response to the depressing of the keys of their respective iingers sufficiently to sound the piano; a simulated piano lkeyboardcomprising a housing member having a translucent'side markedto delineate key replicas, opaque cells positioned behindsaid'key replivcas 'shielding 'each key replica from light from adjoining cells, and illuminating means positioned in the cells so as vto direct their light :through their respectiveY key replicas conductors electrically connecting the individual switches of the switch assembly with the illuminating means of corresponding individual cells'in the simulated piano keyboard'across a source of velectrical ensrergy; and a transposition switch interposed in -said conductors for simultaneously altering the :switch-illuminating means circuits so asto cause trical 8 each switch to controlan illuminating' means a p'r'edeterininednumberof cells in either direction from corresponding connection.

5. The combination of a simulated `keyboard having independently illuminable key replicas, means for selectively illuminating the'key replicas'iin response tofinanipulation of va conventional keyboard, and a transposition device interposed between the illuminating means and the key replicas for selectively altering the relationship ofthe ll'u'minatin'g'means to the key replicas.

6. Foruse iwith'a piano having operably ex'- posed keys-transversely arranged'in an elongated keyboard, which -1 piano 'is productive of vsound upon depressing of the keys, the combination of an elongated switchassembly of a widthles's than the lengthsofthe -piano keys rested on the keys longitudinally'of -the keyboard, said switch fassembly having 'switch members therein individually closed by the depressing of a piano key thereunder, a simulated piano keyboard having independentlyfilluminable key VAreplicas, an elecsyste'm interconnecting the individual switches in the switch assembly with individual key-replicasin the simulated keyboard for illumination oi said `key-replicas in response to de'- pression of "keys oithepia'no, and a transposition switch electrically interposed in the electrical system for selectively altering the illuminating relationshipof the switch assembly'and the key replicas.

' JOSEPH O. EDWARDS.

REFERENCES CITED The following lreferencesY are of record inthe le of this patent:

UNITED 'STATES PATENTS Number Name vDate 667,541 Loving f Feb. 5, 1901 836,827 Pool Nov.'27, 1906 y1,070,256 AHerrmann Aug. 12, 1913 1,232,176 Baker July 3, 1917 1,613,400 McAleavey Jan. 4, `1927 1,889,418 'Pierce .v 'a Nov. 29, 1932 

